World coins chat: Mozambique

Mozambique is located on the south east African coast and was a Portuguese colony from 1505 to 1975. Vasco de Gama was the first European to sail past the Cape of Good Hope, and the Portuguese founded trading posts on the African east coast to rival the Arabs in the region. Mozambique was named after Arab merchant Musa Al Bique, who lived on the Isle of Mozambique.

Initially the Portuguese power in the region was quite limited as the Arabs controlled most of the East African trade (which included a lot of slave trade), but in the 19th century the Portuguese could piggyback on the British naval power and commercial enterprises to consolidate power in mainland Mozambique. The capital was moved to Lourenço Marques (present-day capital Maputo) in 1898. The Portuguese aimed to educate and integrate the local Africans into a modern Portuguese society, but punished people hard when they didn't. After the Carnation Revolution in Portugal that ended the right-wing dictatorial regime in 1974, Portuguese colonies were granted independence, most in 1975. Many Portuguese and upper class Mozambicans left the country fearing the dispossession policies of the new regime. From 1977 until 1992 a bloody civil was ravaged the country. Since that period Mozambique has enjoyed stable growth and political stability but still it is one of the poorer nations in Africa, despite its abundant natural resources.

Mozambique had its first coins in the 19th century, denominated in Real. For most of the time Portuguese currency was used, but from 1935 Mozambican Escudos started to circulate. After independence the Escudo stayed despite plans for the introduction of the Metica in 1975. The Metica coins are very rare and have never been used in circulation. In 1980 the Metical replaced the Escudo. As a symbol for the violent times the 20 Meticais from 1986 features a tank.

The Metical became the least valued currency unit in 2005, with a rate of 24,500 to the US Dollar. In 2006 Mozambique revalued the Metical at a rate of 1000 to 1. The 2015 rate is 38 MZN/$.

Mozambique has many coin types, both from before and after independence. They are a bit difficult to find but not impossible. The 1975 Metica series are the most valuable ones, but still I see those auctioned at prices way less than Krause suggests.

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/mozambique-1.html

Have just 2 1973-1974 coins

I've 5:
3 from the 1952-1974 Portuguese colonial period: 50 Centavos, 1 Escudo, and 2.50 Escudos
1 Metical from 1980, which I got well over 20 years ago and haven't seen another one since
and 20 Meticais from 1994 that I found in a 5-pound bulk lot

I've got 38 types from 1945 until now. The 1980-6 series are hard to find but the others I see regularly. I also own one 1975 10 Centimos, which is actually a non-circulating coin.

It's a lot but I guess Dato would beat me to it.

As i am a local Mozambican, i have almost all in my collection and a lot for swap, specially from 1980-2006. I have also few colonial ones. Anybody can ask me for a swap.

Quote: "jokinen"...​ the 50 Meticais from 1986 features a tank.
​

​You mean the 20 Meticais 1980-86.....

And a curiosity: Is the only country in the world that have an AK47 in the Coat of Arms, as you can see in my profile picture.

Possibly Angola does too and Guinea Bissau - all of those Portuguese African countries which went straight to communism and civil wars on Independence.

 

 

Mozambique 5 Escudo coin 1960 - Silver and colonial

 

   

50 centavos 1957

Group of colonial era coins

 

 

5, 10 and 20 Escudos all silver from 1960.

 

I don't have any post independence Mozambique coins at this stage.

Stop the presses, I have a new set of Mozambique coins from 1 centavo to 10 meticais - details in a few days.